Shank stiffener



June 2,1, 1932. J B HADAWAY 1,863,690

SHANK STIFFENER Filed Oct. 2l, 1929 invention is capable of embodiment in shank` Patented June 21., 1932 UNITEDafSTA TAE PATENT OFFICE g JOHN B. HADAWAY, OF SWANESCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoE vTo UNTTEn SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, or Y.1=AT EEso1\T,l JERSEY, A CORPORATION. OE

NEW JERSEY ,I

sHANx STIEEENEB,

i vApplicationr gled ctrolier21, 1929. Serial No.` 401,173.

This invention relates' to improvements in shank stiffeners. The invention isherein setl forth by'way of illustration with particular reference toits Aapplication to shankpieces for turn shoes, although in certain aspects the stiffeners for usein shoes of other'types such,

shoes. v y

i In theV manufacture of turn shoes, in order to provide for moregsecure attachment of the heels which are commonly vwoo'd heels and toinsure better support'ofthe longitudinal arches in the shank portions of the Shoes, it 5 has been proposed toextendthe metallic reinforcing strip of the usual compositev shankl piece rearwardly to a point beyond the heel breast line of the shoeV and to provide a hole extending through theI reinforcing strip and through the filler'member of the shank piece for thelreceptionrof a heel-attachingl screw which is to be'inserted from the insideof the shoe after thel shank `piecehasbeen laid in for example, as welt shoes and McKay-s ewed,

, place. This proposed practice involves the 5 formationV of holes in the" reinforcing' strip and in the filler member by separate operations and the exercise ofv special care to insure the registration of the holes in the two members of the shank piece. 4 Moreover, the

holes in the shank lpiece must bel located in dierent positions for use in connection with heels of different sizes and styles.

In view of the foregoing, one object ofthe present invention isto provide an improved shank piece for turn shoes which isadapted to be held in place at its rear end 'bymeans of a heel-attaching fastener and which is 'cal pable of being manufactured in a single size and form for use in connection with diferent sizes and styles of heels.

To the accomplishment ofthe above ob ject, one feature of the present invention 'con` sists in the provision ofV a shank piece fo-r turn shoes comprising a filler member and a rein` forcing strip attached to one Side ofthe filler member, the reinforcing strip having an en -A larged rear portion having openings in its margin and having formed ltherein a slot which is elongated lengthwiseof the reinforc-VY ing member for the reception of a heel-attaching fastener driven through the transversely central portion of the Eller member, this construction enablng said fastener to be driven indifferent locations lengthwise of the shoe as may be desirable or necessary properly to holdin place heels of different sizes andpstyles, andproviding also for the passage ofheel attaching nails through the filler member without engaging the reinforcing strip. In the Y illustrated shank piece the reinforcing or stiifening strip is' secured to the under side of a filler piece of leather, leatherboard or similar material, and the rear portion of the reinforcing strip is' enlarged to facilitate and strengthen the attachment of the strip to the filler piece and thus to brace the heel aswellr as to reinforce the shank portion of the shoe. The enlarged portion ofthe illustrated rein*- forcing strip is providedwith marginalopening's'a'rranged to permit the passage through the filler member of the usual heel-attaching nails andV with a centrally disposedslot for the reception of a heel-attaching screw. The elongated slot in the illustrated Vreinforcing strip is provided with inclined ror* `beveled walls which vserve todeflect the point of a. heel-attaching fastener such as a wood screw and guide the screw intothe slot if it should unintentionally be driven slightly out ofy alinement with the locating marks on the tiller piece, and which, moreover, permitthe materialofthe liller piece underneath the beveled head .of the screw to be displaced down- Wardly into the Slotted portion of the stiHen.- er member so that the upper surface of the head ofthe screw may be set flush with the upper surfaceof the filler piece without the necessity of counter-boringV .the filler piecev to receive the head of the screw. To'facilitate the positioningrof the reinforcing'strip in a longitudinally central position relatively to the filler member of the illustrated shank piece, an indentation or other suitable mark is formed on the under side of the filler member, the mark serving as a guide lfor the operator in assembling the component parts of vthe shank piece.y After the illustrated shank piece is placed in a shoe, however, the mark above referred Vto is located at the under side of the shank piece which is hidden from the view of the operator and accordingly in order tov indicate the location in the upper side of the shank piece at which the heel attaching fastener is to be driven so that it may pass through the slot inthe stiifener strip, a similar mark or indentation is provided `'upon the upper surface ofthe ller member. Thelastmentioned mark being initially made in alinement with the mark on the under side of the illermember.

As"herei'nbefo're mentio is not limited to embodiment in shank pieces for turn shoes and in one aspect inventionyis to be recognized kin the provisiQn of a com;

bined shank stifl'ener and heel brace comprising a strip adapted to extend along the shank.

wise of thestiflener strip and having inclined:

t' Walls. arranged to facilitate the operation of inserting a heel-attaching fastener in the shoe; l y

'The'. invention will be explained *withy reference toV the accompanying drawing;

WhichA A y Figli; is a bottom plan view of an. improved shank piece embodying the invention K'Fig. 2y isf a top plan yview ofthe metallic reinforcing orstiifening member of theshank P19085. f.

' Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of theV shank piece; ,Y u .y t

Fig.. 4 is. an edge viewthereof v:Figs Sand 6 are sectionalviewstaken rer-f spectively on the lines V-V andVIVI ofT through the` heel portion of the shank piece, illustrating, the manner in which the. shank pieceis-applied toa shoe; and

Eig, 8-is abottomplan view formfof the shank piece.

.Referring to the drawing, thel improvedL shankstiifener andheel brace comprises a filler Vmember l0 made of leather,- leatherboard or other suitable materiahiand a ,me-l tallic reinforcingor stifl'eningl strip 12-which.v is-ad'a-pted to extend along the shank portionv of the bottom of a shoe and which .is secured- 4 by tacks 14E-toy the under side ofthe filler member 10. The marginal contour ofi they filler member l0 is such as` to fit the interiorVj of. theheeland shank portions.y of; a, shoe and? the portions of the Afiller member which arel adapted to overlie the shank portionv ofl the slioebottom are reduced o r beveled' in the customary manner.

The reinforcing strip` `124 is .l madeV long enough. te Overley the heel; Seat 'portion ef;-

ned-,theinventionof a the filler member andthe rear portion of the reinforcing strip is provided with a slot 16 which is elongated lengthwise of the strip and Vis formed with inclined or beveled side and end wallsV 18 at the upper side of the strip. As shown, the. beveled wal-ls,` ofthe. slot 16 are; conveniently formediby. striking up narrowgiianges 20 fromthe material of the strip l2; Advantageously, the flanges 20 may be struck-up during the operation-ofgpunchingthe slot in the reinforcing strip;- Therear portion of the reinforcing stripflQf-is enlarged in orderto strengthen the strip and to provide for aY greater area of contact between the reinforcing strip and the'ller member, as well as,4 between. the rearl portion ofthe. strip and the attaching. faceofraV heel which is. subseuently tobe; lattachedltoShoe in which the. vs ank piecefis to be incorporated, Enlargement of the rearportionofthe reinforcing strip '122. permits theuse. ofA two tacks.` 14 for'- securillg the rear portion/of the reinforcing strip tothe ller member and alsohelps. to reinforce and "strengthen a shoe to wliichfthe'.

shank pieceisappliedby stiifening the slank portion- 0fv the shoe against lateralftwisting stress.y sliownftheftacks, are.. so, located asto 'insulf against possibility .of` interference with either. the heel attaching screwor the heel attachinggnals,... llnP order that5 thel enlargement"fofv the. rearfportionfof the rlieinfor'cing; strip 12.,.sliallnot interfere, with.

the use 'in' 'thefshoe of .the usual wood heelatltacling nailSJh rear portion of. the reinr forcing stripfi's shaped, as. shown` in l:` .igs.. 1

andQiw'lth suitable marginal.'y openings or` notches22 enablingheelattaching 'nailsto be, driven inftheir'. usual, locations` in the shoe,:

thegnotchesbeingarrangedjSO V2lifordc'onsiderable latitude in; theV locationswherel, theinails maybe driven.'

` As. shown L'in Eig.v if mark. ai' is provided onthe lower slide ofthe filler member l0 for use.infacilitatingthe assembly of 'the-rein-v forcingtstrip. l2a1dY the @Eller member .in such; relation thatctlle. eln'gat'ed slot l'GWillbeCI-i'- trally positioned relatively. to, tlelieel' portion.-

of` the filler member.; vThe mank 24g may c onveniently be formed'byjslightly indentingthe.

filler member., the indentation vbeing prefer.-

ably 'in tlie.- forInl Of' al .line` substantially as` longv a'stlieslot inthe reinforcing strip. yInasmuch asV the'. nIllini-151,-24-willlbe. hidden from. view ofthe. operator..Wh@intheI shank piece;

has been placedy in;agshoetaQsecQndf mark 26 (Fig. 3)., similarto'anddoeated in line with the` markQl, ,is providedupon the upper sur-- face;A of; the iillergmeniberffor assisting .the

operator in locating ajfastenerrelatively to' the-fillermember so thatitniay be drivendownwardlytlirouglithe.slot irrthefrein,fore?4 ing .stripY and; into' a?.V heel. whichhas; beenf appliedt'otheshoefon the, purpose .of secur- `ing 'the.shank: piece andtheheel .inf place., v

piece and heel-attaching fastener 28 is in the form of an ordinary wood screw having a beveled head 30. In driving the screw 28 the screw should be positioned so that when it is driven through the filler member 10 the screw will enter the slot 16 in the reinforcing strip 12. However, in case the screw is inaccurately located by the operator, or in case the members of the shank piece were not assembled in the proper relation to one another, the screw 28 may be driven through the Eller member in a location slightly out of central relation widthwise of theslot 16. In such an event, however, the beveled side walls of the slot 16 will serve to deflect the point ofl the screw to one side or the other a suflicient amount to insure the passage of the screw through the slot 16, through the fitted end 32 of the sole of the shoe, and into the heel 34. Inasmuch as the slot 16vis elongated lengthwise of the shank piece considerable latitude is allowed in the positioning of the heelattaching screw lengthwise of the shoe, thus enabling heels of different sizes and styles to be used in connection with shankpieces having reinforcing strips ofthe same size. The beveled walls at the ends of the slot 16 will function in the same manner as the beveled side walls of the slot if the point of the heel-attaching screw is brought into engagement with these beveled end walls. Moreover, the beveled side and end walls of the slot 16 permit the material of the filler member 10 immediately beneath the head of the screw 28 to be displaced downwardlyinto the slot 16 as the screw is driven into place, thus enabling the head of the screw to be sunk into the material of the filler member and set therein with the upper surface of the head 30 flush with the upper surface of the filler member without the necessity of previously counterboring the filler member to receive the head of the screw. After the screw 28 has been tightened it serves, not only to hold the heel firmly in place, but also to hold the rear portion of the shank piece firmly against the heel seat portion 82 of the sole of the shoe in such a manner as to prevent relative movement between the shank piece and the shoe and to stiften the shank portion of the shoe against lateral twisting stress. ing of the shank portion of the shoe is made even more effective by the enlargement of the rear portion of the metallic reinforcing strip 12, while the shape of the enlarged portion of the reinforcing strip is made, such as heretofore described, so as not to interfere with the driving of the usual wood heel-attaching nails through the shank piece and into the heel.

A modication of the above-described shank piece is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein apertures 36 are provided in the enlarged rear portion of the reinforcing strip 12 in place of, the openings or notches 22 shown This stiifenin Figi 1; `to Provide elearerioeforihewood heelfetteehinggaile Hering described my nventioalwhet Gleim., S new and desire to Seeure bri-Lettere le A piece lfor euro Shoes ooiorriei.

ieg 1511er .member having emerging! out,- lroe shrewd 11o-.iii the inside .oi-thev heel'end Shark portions of e Shoe, ,and e ,reinforcing Strip for the fil-iler. .Irierrlloeluvk Seid reinforcing' Strip. teringv en enlarged roer-Portion aderied toibo located rearwardly leerer-id :the heel. breeetlire oie shoe yeed seid filler :member heviilgite margin Hoifehed yits-eentrai.- por-ton perforated. to permit the passage of:

'niv

heeleiteeh-irig fasteners driven their usual;

ioeetieos through the Vshoe bottom.

A eherlroieee for turn Shoeseompreirg e. filler `Irlemloerf having `e lrrrarg '1 1 1 el fautliuie shared to di zthe inside of the heel .and shank portions of e shoe.,v ende reiaforoieg Strip Aforvthe filler member, lsaid reinforcing strip ice and `spacedinwardly fromtheedge ofthe enlarged rear portion of the strip.

Composite shark piece for ter-ri shoes comprising a illerrmember, and a reinforcing strip for the filler member, said reinforcing strip having a portion extending rearwardly over the heel seat portion of the filler member, said portion having formed therein a slot elongated lengthwise of the reinforcing member to receive a heel-attaching fastener, and said ller member having a line on its inner face corresponding in length to the length of the slot and in line with the center line of the slot for indicating the location and length of said slot.

4. A composite shank piece for turn shoes comprising a filler member, and a reinforcing strip for the filler member, said reinforcing strip having a portion extending rearwardly over the heel seat portion of the filler member, said portion having formed therein a slot elongated lengthwise of the reinforcing member to receive a heel attaching fastener, and said filler member having a line on its outer face corresponding in length to the length of the slot and in line with the center line of the slot for gaging the assembled relation of said strip and filler member. 5. A composite shank piece for turn shoes comprising a filler member, and a reinforcing strip for'the-ller member, said reinforcing strip having a portion extending rearwardly beyond the middle ofthe heel seat portion' of the f'rller member, said portion vhaving formed therein a slotelongatedlengthwise of the reinforcing' member vto receive a heel attachingfastener', said filler member having .lines on its inner and outer lfaces correspond- ,l lng in length to thelength ofthe slot and in linewith the center lineof the slot. 6. 'A composite shank piece for turn shoes comprising ariller member, and a reinforc-kv ing-strip attached to one'sideof theiller member, the reinforcing strip having an enlarged rear portion formed with openings in itsmarg'into provide for the passage of heel-l attaching nails through the filler member Without engaging the reinforcing strip and having a Vslot elongated'lengthvvi'se of the reinforcing strip for receiving a heel-attaching fastener driven through the transversely een# tral portion'of the-filler member.

7: A combined shank stifener and heel v brace comprising a strip'adapted to extend along the shank'portiony of the bottom of a shoe and having -an enlarged rear portion provided with' marginal-notches 'affording clearance for heel-attachingnails and constructed and arrangedv to afford considerable latitude in the locations Where the nails may be driven* and said strip havinga's'lot for the reception of a heel-attaching fastener,k the slot being elongated lengthwise of the vstiffener strip and having inclined Walls ar-V ranged tofaci'litate the `*operation of inserting a heel-attaching fastener in the shoe'.

In testimony whereof I 4have signed my. name to this specication.

' JOHN B. HADAWAK'- 

